Bustle



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. D. O. FOSGATE.

BUSTLE.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

D. O. POSGATE.

BUSTLE.

No. 363,458. Patented May 24, 1887.

WI TJV ESSES K IJV' VEJV' TOR W66 17. 0. ragga/5e. W o W I v a m.dttorneys bustle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL OSCAR FOSGATE, 0F AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY B.HARFORD,oFsoorrooUNrY,nnvA.

BU-STLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,458, dated May 24,1887.

App ication filed October 28, 1886. Serial No. 217,451. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL OSCAR Fos- GATE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois,have invented new and useful Improvements in Bustles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bustles; and the noveltyconsists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and adaptation ofparts for service, substantially as hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The'object of my invention is the provision of a bustle which can bevery easily and securely attached and retained in place, and which shallbe very light in weight and also possess sufficient elasticity to giveor respond to themovements of the wearer, thereby rendering the bustlecomfortable.

I attain the above objects by the device shown in the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate a bustle constructed in accordance with andembodying the features of my invention, in which drawings- Figure 1 is aplan view of my improved Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3is a detail view of one of the side attaching-plates. Fig. 4 is adetached perspective view of the side plates and proximate parts. Fig. 5is a view of the band for the waist. Fig. 6 is a detached perspectiveview showing the connection between the springs.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of referencedenote'corresponding parts in all the figures thereof, A and A designatemetal plates providing. the means for attaching the bustle, and which,for the sake of convenience, I will term attaching-plates.

In describing the invention I shall suppose the device as applied inposition, and in using the terms outer and inner will distinguish withreference to, the position of the parts relative to the body, the latterbeing considered the center, from which the parts of the device extendoutward. At the inner end of these attaching-plates are provided hori--zontal slots at, to allow the passage of a tape or band, B,therethrough; This tape or band outside the slots is secured to andpassed through a cloth covering, B,and extends outward therefrom to anydesired length, one end of the tape or band having a buckle, a. I Thecloth covalso formed on the upper side with projecting inclinedextensions or arms a, any number of which may be employed, according tothe size of the bustle.

D and D designate transverse end brace coiled springs, which have theirends coiled around, and thussecured to the first and lastof the seriesof arms a. of each plate A and A, and intermediate of these end bracecoiled springs are a number of transverse coiled springs, E, both theend brace springs-and the intermediate transverse springs being curvedand spaced apart to give a suitable and proper shape to the bustle, andforming an open spring-frame, as shown.

In the present form of bustle I have shown three arms or extensions, afor the plates A and A, and I employ three intermediate coiled springs,the center one of which has its ends coiled around and held to thecenter arm, a and the two others are coiled around the same arm to whichthe end bracesprings, D and D, are secured. "Of course, while the endsof all the transverse springs D, D, and E come close together, theirmain body portions are spaced apart to provide the necessary supportingand bulged surface to give the proper shape to the bustle.

F designates the curved main coil-spring for retaining the transversesprings in position and yet preserving their elasticity. It is attachedat its front ends to the end spring D, carried inward toward the centerfor a short distance until the two branches of the spring F nearly cometogether, at which point, a they are attached to the end spring D, andthen outwardly, the two branches of springs F engaging or twistingineach of the transverse coils on opposite sides of the bustle-frame andprojecting for a short distance outward beyond and below the endbrace-spring D, forming an open loop, as at a.

G and G designate longitudinal brace- IOC springs, which have theirinner ends secured to the branches of the curved springF beyond theinner end spring, D, and pass outwardly over the upper portion of thetransverse springs, with their coils engaging the coils of saidtransverse. springs.

From this construction it will be seen that I have the coils of all thesprings forming the bustle intertwined with or engaging each other, asclearly shown in Fig. 6, thereby providing a bustle in which all thesprings, when compressed, will yield at the same time, and which willrecoil immediately when released from the compression. It will also beobserved that I provide a skeletonized spring-frame in the form of abustle, in which frame the springs will be connected together and heldfrom independent movement. The springs cannot be moved laterally out ofplace, since the coils of the springs are intertwined one within theother. The transverse springs D, D, and E fix the shape of the bustle,while the main and brace springs; F G mainly serve to hold thetransverse springs together and preserve the form of the bustle. Theloop a" on the main spring serves to taper or round off the bustleneatly in giving the required form. Attached to the waist or attachingband B are loops b and b, through which the curved spring F is adaptedto pass. This holds the springframe from sagging outward from the bodyof the wearer.

The sheaths or coverings B, which cover the attaching plates and concealthem entirely from view, serve to make the bustle neater in appearance,and also protect the clothes from soiling at the points of most directcontact.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,it will be seen that I provide a bustle which can be easily applied andwhich is always supported in position under all circumstances, which isvery light in weight and very elastic, and thereby readily accommodatesitself to the positions assumed by the wearer, so that the drapery willalways be retained in perfect shape.

Special stress is laid on theattaching-plates A and A, from the factthat they provide for the attachment ofthe body-wire O, the springs, andthe attaching-band. 7

I am aware that bustles made of coiled springs are not new, and this,broadly, I disclaim. I lay special stress on the separation of thesprings, being curved and spaced apart to give proper shape to thebustle, and all connccted together to prevent lateral movement of thesprings; also the body-wire O, which serves to confine the skirtsadjacent to the bustle, prevents the springs from being entangled withthe skirts, and also supports the bustle. It will also be seen that mybustle is very simple in construction and inexpensive of manufacture.

I do not limit myselfto the precise construction of parts described, orto any particular number of wire springs,as such may be changed to suitthe circumstances without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim- 1. In a bustle, the herein-described attaching-plates having aseries of projecting arms and having slots in their ends, the waist-bandpassing through the slots, the body-wire attached at its ends to theplates, andthespring bustle-frame having its transverse coils secured toand carried by the arms of said plates, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bustle,the attaching-plates,thetransverse curved coiled springsattached to said plates, the curved main spring connecting thetransverse coiled springs, and the longitudinal brace-springs passingover the upper face of the coiled transverse springs and engagingtherewith, as set forth.

3. In'a bustle, the combination of'the attaching-plates, the waist-band,the covers for the attaching-plates,secured to the waist-band, and thecontinuously-coiled springs, forming the framework of the bustle,carried by the plates, substantially as set forth.

4. Abustle comprisingtheattachingplates, the coiled transverse springs,and the coiled longitudinal springs connecting the transverse springs,substantially as specified.

5. In a bustle, the transverse coiled springs, the attaching plates towhich the transverse springs are, connected, and the longitudinal springengaging the transverse springs and the body-wire 0 below the springs,asset forth.

IIO

6. Abustle comprising the attaching-plates,

the coiled transverse springs carried by said plates, and the maincoiled longitudinal spring having its ends secured to theattaching-plates, and being carried inward from said plates at an angleto the transverse springs and then downward, its middle portiondepending below the lowest transverse spring to form a loop, as at a",as set forth.

7. A bustle comprising the attachingplates having a series ofprojecting'arms, the coiled transverse springs, and the coiledlongitudinal springs connecting the same, the said transverse springshaving their ends coiled around the projecting arms of theattaching-plates, substantially as specified.

8. A bustle comprising the attaching-plates,

the continuously coiled spring bustle-frame carried by said plates, andthe body-wire secured to said plates and projecting therefrom in theline of the bustle-frame, but below and separate from the,' same,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL OSCAR FOSGATE.

Witnesses:

LYMAN BALDWIN, Gno. MEREDITH.

